A global health crisis
According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), 1.1 billion people worldwide suffer from eye health problems that could be prevented or treated. 90% of them live in low- or middle-income countries, with the poorest populations and those in rural areas hit hardest. 55% are women and girls.
| By the numbers | |
Vision loss includes:
| Major causes of vision loss:
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Vision loss causes $410.7 billion in lost economic productivity each year, while the educational cost of uncorrected vision problems in school-age children equals 6.3 million lost school years (source: IAPB).
Poverty: the leading cause of blindness
Poverty is both a cause and consequence of poor eye health. In low- and middle-income countries, vision loss is four times more common, and its socioeconomic impact hits harder, with major, lasting effects.
Africa has 73% more blind or visually impaired people per capita than any other region in the world. Over 100 million people struggle to learn, read, participate in society, live independently, and find work—trapping them and their families in a vicious cycle of dependence and poverty. Beyond the person affected by vision loss, their family also bears the financial burden of care with limited resources. This impacts the social and economic wellbeing of both individual and family, with ripple effects at the community, regional, and national levels.
Blindness: a preventable tragedy
Due to population growth, aging, and lifestyle changes, projections show that without sufficient investment, vision loss could affect 1.76 billion people by 2050. Despite recent progress, solving this major public health problem remains essential to sustainable global development.
Yet 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable. Safe, effective solutions exist—including eye exams, eyeglasses, and cataract surgery—that could address the vast majority of vision loss.
The Organization for the Prevention of Blindness (OPC) works to strengthen eye health systems and fights for the right to sight for the most vulnerable populations in francophone Africa. This region receives far less financial aid for quality eye care compared to anglophone Africa, making these populations especially vulnerable to the effects of vision loss.
We partner with local governments, civil society organizations, and communities to build comprehensive eye care programs, expand access to eye care services, and foster local ownership.
Investing in inclusive eye health: essential for sustainable global development
Investing in inclusive eye health (IEH) means ensuring eye care services are accessible to everyone, including people with sensory, physical, and intellectual disabilities, as well as those with mental health issues.
It also means ensuring people with long-term visual impairment have access to greater opportunities for rehabilitation, education, livelihoods, and social inclusion. IEH is essential for reaching the poorest populations and most neglected communities.
Good vision and eye health are fundamental to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Investing in eye health improves wellbeing, academic success, and promotes professional integration and civic participation. Healthy eyes and vision contribute to inclusive economic growth, employment, and better living standards.